Isis: A Journal of the History of Science Society is widely recognized as a leading voice in the history of science. George Sarton founded the journal in 1912, and two years later the History of Science Society (HSS) was formed to advance the journal’s mission and centralize the nascent discipline. The September 2024 issue of Isis pays tribute to the centennial anniversary of the HSS with a collection of articles that delve into the rich history of the society and its publications.
In their introduction to the issue, editors Alexandra Hui and Matthew Lavine write that the issue can be seen as “a love letter of sorts: to the Isis readership, to the Society, and to the field as a whole.” Articles in the issue treat a wide range of topics related to the history of Isis and the HSS, such as the history of the Isis bibliography , the story of women’s contributions to the HSS , and the society’s little-known role in the hunt for the Unabomber . Additional sections cover the history of Isis ’s production and its use and reception within the larger scholarly ecosystem. Lavine and Hui note that, as part of the journal’s mission to advance equity and collaboration in the history of science, most of the articles in the issue have been coauthored by early career scholars.
In addition to marking the HSS centennial anniversary, the September 2024 issue of Isis also signals an editorial transition for the journal: beginning with this issue, former co-editors Hui and Lavine have handed over leadership of the journal to the new team of Elise K. Burton and Projit Bihari Mukharji. Speaking to their vision for Isis , Mukharji and Burton wrote in a recent HSS blog post that “as historians we plan to respect the traditions of the journal, while also recognizing that traditions must also adapt to the future.”
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